Flashlight having a magnet-switch combination

ABSTRACT

A flashlight having a magnet-switch combination wherein the actuating means of the switch and the magnetic means for attaching the flashlight to a magnetic attractive surface are compactly disposed within a non-slideable housing secured to the battery casing of the flashlight.

United States Patent [1 1 Brindley Dec. 2, 1975 i 1 FLASHLIGHT HAVING A[56] References Cited MAGNET-SWITCH COMBINATION OTHER PUBLICATIONS [75]Inventor: Robert E. Brindley, New York, NY. Hardware Age, 1972 [73]Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation, New

York, NY. Primary Examiner-Joseph F. Peters, Jr. Filed: Sept. 1974Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cornelius F. O Brien 21 Appl. No.: 509,722 I57] ABSTRACT A flashlight having a magnet-switch combination [52] 11.5.C1 240/l0.6 R; 200/60; 200/159; wherein the actuating means of theswitch and the 2 240/1966; 240/52-15 magnetic means for attaching theflashlight to a mag- [51] llit. Cl. FZIL 7/00; FZlL 15/00 neticattractive Surface are compactly disposed within [58] Fleid of Search240/106, 10.65, 10.66, a nomslideable housing Secured to the batterycasing 240/52.l5; 200/60, 159 R, 302, 340, 330, of the flashlight 8Claims, 12 Drawing Figures J9 4 d'flfllgg ffi 56 7255 .f/

Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,924,117

FIG. 5

FIG-6 Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,924,117

FIG.8

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FIG. 9

US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,924,117

FLASHLIGHT HAVING A MAGNET-SWITCH COMBINATION FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a flashlight switch assembly and moreparticularly concerns a magnet-push-buttonswitch combination for aflashlight.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Flashlights presently available aregenerally fabricated with various sliding switches which are activatedfrom the outside of the flashlight casing. These types of flashlightsgenerally require a switch arrangement whereby sliding means disposed onthe outside of the casing have to be moved parallel to the axis of theeasing to complete the electrical circuit within the flashlight which,in the presence of conventional cells, causes the bulb to light. Thistype switch arrangement usually can be unintentionally actuated whilebeing stored in a rather confined compartment or when the switch memberof the flashlight is accidentally bumped against an object.

Another type of flashlight, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,539,800 toDoring et al., emphasizes a magnet assembly mounted within the batterycasing of the flashlight having spring means for retaining two elongatedmagnet members of the assembly within the wall of the battery casing.The magnet assembly is substantially hidden within the battery casingwhen not in use but the magnet members partially protrude from thebattery casing when the flashlight is positioned near a magnetattracting surface so that it magnetically attaches the flashlight tothe surface. This type flashlight employes a separate sliding switchassembly for activating the flashlight to the on or of position.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,886,664 to Graubner discloses a magnet-switchcombination for flashlights wherein magnet means and switch means aremounted in an assembly that slides on the battery casing of theflashlight. Again this type of magnet-switch arrangement can result inthe flashlight being unintentionally actuated if the assembly housingsaid switch and magnet means accidently bumps against an object.

It is an object of this invention to provide a magnet switch combinationsuitable for use in a flashlight.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel magnet-switchconbination for a flashlight wherein the magnet and switch actuatingmeans are compactly arranged in a non-slideable housing secured to thebattery casing of the flashlight.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel push buttonswitch fixedly secured within the battery casing and having itsactuation means disposed in a housing secured to the battery casing andwhich contains magnetic means for attaching the flashlight to a magneticattractive surface.

These and other objects are accomplished by having a push button switchadapted for mounting within a battery casing while the actuation meansfor the switch along with magnetic means are disposed in a housingfixedly secured to the outside of the battery casing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a flashlightcomprising a lens and reflector unit having a front open end adapted tobe detachably mounted to a battery casing and having a lens, a lensring, a lamp holder adapted to accommodate a lamp and containing a firstcontact means therein; a battery casing provided with a first open endadapted to receive a battery means and adapted to be detachably mountedto an end cap for securing battery means therein, a second open end atthe opposite end thereof adapted to be detachably mounted to the frontopen end of the lens and reflector unit, and wherein second contactmeans are provided for electrically connecting the interior vicinity ofthe end cap to said first contact means; a push button switch fixedlysecured on a mounting bracket disposed within the second open end of thebattery casing with the button member of the switch disposed within anopening in the wall of the battery casing adjacent the second open endthereof; a housing member substantially disposed on the outer surface ofthe battery casing and having an opening disposed therein with magneticmeans disposed in the surface of said housing member adjacent saidopening, said housing member aligned and secured to the battery casingsuch that the opening in said housing member is aligned with the openingin the wall of the casing so as to accommodate the button member of theswitch disposed in the opening in the wall of the casing; a flexibleboot member disposed and secured over the opening in the housing memberso that upon being depressed, the boot will in turn depress the buttonmember of the switch; and third contact means adapted through actuationof the push button switch in the presence of a lamp and battery meansassembled in the flashlight to complete or interrupt the continuity ofan electrical circuit between the lamp and the battery means.

As used herein, the button member of the switch can comprise one longextended member secured to a smaller button member as shown in FIG. 8 orit can comprise only a relatively small button member as shown in FIG.9. In the latter embodiment, the flexible boot would extend into theopening in the wall of the battery casing and be disposed therein so asto contact the button member of the switch when said boot is depressed.

As used herein, the second contact means used to connect the interiorvicinity of the end cap, i.e., the vicinity within the end cap occupiedby a conductive member, such as a coil spring, that contacts one pole ofthe battery disposed at the lower end of the battery casing, cancomprise one or more conductive strips and/or the battery casing, whenthe latter is made of a conductive material. The primary function of thesecond contact means is to provide a conductive path from one pole of abattery to the first contact means contained in the lens and reflectorunit. It is also within the scope of this invention to have the switchfunction as one of the contact elements in connecting the pole of thebattery disposed at the lower end of the battery casing to the firstcontact means in the lens and reflector unit. This arrangement isdisclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,440.

As used herein, the battery means shall mean one or more cells with thespecific number and size being governed by the size and shape of thebattery casing. The

more conventional size battery casing usually accommodates two D-size orC-size cells.

In one specific embodiment of this invention, the battery casing can beof the usual metallic tubular type in which the casing itself providesthe electrical path from the vicinity of the end cap to the vicinity ofthe open end adapted to be detachably mounted to the lens and reflectorunit. In another embodiment where the battery casing is made of anonconductive material, then a conductive strip would have to beemployed to electrically connect the interior of the end cap to thevicinity of the open end of the battery casing adapted to be detachablymounted to the lens and reflector unit. In both embodiments, it ispreferable to have a coil spring secured to the interior of the end capso as to provide sufficient pressure on the battery means within thecasing to insure good electrical contact between the battery means andthe contact means therein. The coil spring also functions toelectrically connect one pole of the battery to either a conductivebattery casing or to a conductive strip depending upon the material usedfor the battery casing.

When the battery casing is made of conductive material, then theflashlight could comprise a metallic tubular battery casing closed atits lower or first open end by means of an end cap of similar materialwhich could be threadably engaged to said first open end while the upperor second open end at the opposite end thereof could be threadablymounted to a lens and reflector unit. The end cap would preferablycontain a coil spring to constantly supply pressure on the battery meanswithin the casing to maintain or urge said battery means toward theupper or second open end of the casing where a push button switchfixedly secured on a mounting bracket would be disposed. A suitablyshaped contact strip would be employed to connnect the battery casing tothe contact shell of the lens and reflector unit which in turn would beelectrically connected to, or adapted to be connected to, a lamp bulbmounted in said lens and reflector unit. The battery casing of theflashlight would in turn be electrically connected to one pole of thebattery adjacent the end cap via the coil spring. The push buttonswitch, which is secured on a mounting bracket within the battery casingwith its button member projecting through an opening in the wall of thebattery casing, would provide the contact means adaptable forelectrically connecting the opposite pole of the battery (centerterminal), or the center terminal of the battery closest the push buttonswitch when more than one battery is employed, to the center terminal ofthe lamp bulb thereby completing the electrical circuit for theflashlight when the switch is actuated to the on position. Thus bydepressing the button member of the switch, the electrical contactbetween the center terminal of the battery and lamp bulb would becompleted or interrupted depending upon the state of the electricalconnection prior to the button being depressed.

In another embodiment of this invention, the battery casing could bemade of a nonconductive material whereupon a conductive strip would haveto be employed to electrically connect the coil spring which is securedto the end cap to the contact shell member in the lens and reflectorunit.

In both these embodiments, a housing member having an opening disposedand defined by a wall of said housing and containing projected magneticmeans secured in a surface of said housing adjacent said opening wouldbe aligned and secured to the battery casing such that the opening insaid housing would be aligned with the opening in the wall of thebattery casing so as to accommodate the projected button member of theswitch disposed within the opening of the battery casing. As

shown in the drawings, the housing could lock or secure the switchmounting bracket in place within the battery casing. A flexible bootcould then be secured over the opening in the housing where the buttonmember of the switch is disposed. In the flashlight embodiment utilizingthe nonconductive battery casing, the flashlight could be madewaterproof by water-tightly securing the flexible boot to the opening inthe housing, securing the housing water-tightly to the battery casingand by employing suitable O-ring seals at each threaded area, i.e.,between the lens and reflector unit and the upper end of battery casingand between the lower end of the battery casing and end cap. Byselecting a suitable floatable material for the casing of theflashlight, a waterproof, floatable flashlight can be produced whichwill have the capability of being repeatedly operated without losing itswater-tight features. The novel push button switch and magneticarrangement of this invention can be used with various size and shapebattery casings which could be coupled to various size and shape lensand reflector units to produce flashlights for all purposes.

As is apparent from this invention, the only movable part of the housingassembly would be the flexible boot which is adapted to contact thebutton member of the switch. The flexible boot would be disposed belowthe plane defined by the top surface of the projected magnetic means andthereby would not be subject to being depressed when the flashlight isattached to a magnetically attractive surface. In addition, thisarrangement would eliminate the accidental putting on of the flashlightwhich is sometimes encountered when the magnetic means are mounted inthe slideable housing arrangement of the prior art.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a flashlight embodying this invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of a push button switch fixedlysecured on a mounting bracket;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a mounting bracket in the open position;

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of FIG. 5 taken along lines 66;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a mounting bracket in the closed positiontaken along the longitudinal axis;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial sectional side view of a portion of theflashlight of FIG. 2 showing the magnetic-switch combination;

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of a switch assembly showing a bootmember having an inwardly extended center portion;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the magnetic-switch housing shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section view taken along line 11ll of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 iszan enlarged sectional view taken along line l2l2 of FIG. 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a flashlight 1 having abattery casing 2, an end cap 3, and a lens and reflector unit 4. Thebattery casing 2 is of the usual metallic tubular type of thin gagemetal such as chrome plated steel, aluminum, brass or copper coatedsteel or other similarly conductive material, preferably FIG. 2 is ahorizontal section of the flashlight of FIG.

a metal capable of being finished to a high polished state. Batterycasing 2 is closed at its lower end by means of end cap 3 which isthreadably engaged to the lower end of casing 2. End cap 3 contains acoil spring 5 which electrically connects casing 2 with one pole of cell6 while simultaneously exerting pressure on batteries 6 and 7 tomaintain good electrical contact to conductive strip 8 of push buttonswitch 9. The upper open end portion of easing 2 terminates with athreaded segment 10 designed to engage threaded segment 11 of the lensand reflector unit 4. Disposed in the side wall of casing 2 at thevicinity of the upper open end is a circular opening 12.

Lens and reflector unit 4 comprises lens 13, lens ring 14, reflector 15,contact shell 16, bulb holder 17 and lamp 18. Reflector is of theconventional type comprising a molded reflector body composed of anonconductive material, such as plastic, for instance, polystyrene, andhaving substantially corresponding concave-convex sides, the concaveside of which is provided with a metallic reflectory coating 19 such asaluminum applied by conventional vacuum-metallizing techniques or thelike, and a central apertured cylindrical neck not shown. The contactshell 16, composed of an electrically conductive material, is preferablyof frusto-conical shape with a tubular socket axially formed therein.The tubular socket, e.g. as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,440, isgenerally secured within the apertured neck of reflector 15 and has aflanged end which interlocks with an annular flange which is integrallymolded to the opening of the apertured neck of the reflector. Thefrusto-conical portion of contact shell 16 forms an annular shaped skirt20 which projects radially outwardly from and out of contact withreflector 15. The flanged end of the tubular socket within reflector 16also provides a seat against which is mounted the flanged neck of lampbulb 18 which is of the conventional type having a cylidrical base 21including a button type terminal 23.

Lens ring 14 is preferably made of the same material as casing 2 so asto give an overall streamline appearance. It is also within the scope ofthis invention to have the lens ring 14 made of a different materialthan that of casing 2. End cap 3 is preferably made of the same materialas casing 2 but if a different material is desired, then said materialhas to be conductive so as to provide a complete electrical path for theflashlight.

Bulb holder 17 is tubular shaped and is composed of a resilientmaterial, preferably a molded plastic, such as polyethylene. Bulb holder17 is securely mounted within the tubular socket of reflector 15 byconventional means as also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,440. Toremove holder 17 to replace lamp 18, the holder 17 is simply pulledoutwardly from the tubular socket to detach its forward end. Once thelamp is replaced, it is simply pushed back into the socket. Theassembled unit containing reflector 15, contact shell 16, bulb holder 17and lamp 18 is held securely within the lens and lens ring assembly byfriction fit between the reflector rib periphery and a bead within thelens ring 14. After assembly, the forward opening of the battery casingentraps the reflector between its forward thread and the lens.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, a push button switch bracket 22 comprises anoverall flat sided (24, 26) substantially tubular configuration which ispivotable about the midpoint 28 of one of the side walls 26. In the openposition, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a flat base 30 is disposed in onehalf of the tubular bracket with an inwardly projecting annular wall 32disposed in the other half of the tubular bracket. Inwardly projectingannular member 32 defines an opening 34 through which the inner buttonmember 36 of switch 9 is inserted while the base 38 of switch 9 seats onbase 30 of the mounting bracket 22 as shown in FIG. 2. Disposed onopposite sides of opening 34 are semi-circular projection members 40which help maintain the base 38 of switch 9 in proper alignment whenswitch 9 is placed in the mounting bracket 22. The flat surfaces 42 arealigned such that they are parallel with the longitudinal side wall ofbase 38 when switch 9 is positioned on mounting bracket 22. Disposed ateach end of the longitudinal outer extremities of mounting bracket 22 atthe upper vicinity of the annular member 32 are grooves or openings 44whose function will be described below. A longitudinal groove 46 isdisposed at the center of the outer lower half of the bracket toaccommodate a contact strip as will be described below.

Mounting bracket 22 can be molded in one piece as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7using a suitable plastic material such as polyolefin, polyethylene,polypropylene, copolymers of acrylonitrile, butadiene, or styrene or anyother suitable material capable of securing switch 9 within batterycasing 2.

A conventional type push button switch 9 can be positioned in bracket 22by inserting the button member 36 through opening 34 whereupon the topsurface of the base 38 will rest on the flange 48 of annular wall 32 andbe aligned between members 40 as shown in FIG. 2. Thereupon both halvesof bracket 22 can be pivoted together so that the bottom surface of base38 of switch 9 will rest on base 30 of the bracket. The switch andbracket assembly along with a conductive strip 49 placed in recess 46can then be inserted into the upper end of battery casing 2 andpositioned such that the button 36 of switch 9 is centered withinopening 12 of the side wall of casing 2 as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 8.Thereafter, an extended cylinder 5", closed and partially filled at theclosed end, is secured to button member 36 so as to effectively projectthe actuation means of the push button switch 9 substantially throughopening 12 in battery casing 2.

According to the present invention, novel means are afforded for amagnet-switch actuation combination which will enable the flashlight tobe supported on a metal surface in any desired position and yet will notinterfere with the fuctioning of the switch. As shown in FIGS. 2, 8 and10 to 12, a housing 51 comprises a rectangular, cup-shaped, box-likesegment 52 integrally extended at one end to a cylindrical segment 53and at the other end to an expodential type curved segment providing aflange 54 thereat. Cylindrical segment 53 had an opening defined by theinternal wall 55 of the housing, said wall 55 extending below the lowersurface 56 of rectangular segment 52 and having outwardly extendingnarrow flexible tabs 57 and 58 disposed along the longitudinal axis ofhousing 51. Disposed on the inside wall 55 is a groove 59, one side ofwhich is defined by a radially inwardly protruding flange 60. Therectangular segment 52 comprises spaced side walls 61 joined at one endto spaced end wall 62 and at the other end to'spaced end wall 63, saidend wall 63 also forming part of the wall 55 defining opening 64 incylindrical segment 53. The walls 61, 62 and 63 are integrally unitedwith a top wall 65 disposed in spaced and generally parallel relation tothe wall of easing 2.

The housing 51 can preferably be made of a suitable non-magneticmaterial such as plastic, e.g., nylon, polyethylene, polyolefin,polypropylene, copolymers of acrylonitrile, butadiene or styrene.

Mounted in the rectangular section 52 of housing 51 are a pair ofopposed elongated collector bars or angles 66 made of non-magnetic, butmagnet conductive material, for example, steel. Each collector consistsof a relatively short leg 67 which in assembly with the other collectoris disposed in spaced planar relation thereto and forms a short gaptherebetween, and a relatively longer leg 68 adapted to fit into acorrespondingly enclosed slot 69 in the housing top wall 65 and extendslightly beyond said wall 65 thereby forming a tongue and slotconnection. Seated within the hollow rectangular segment 52 and innesting engagement with the angled collector bars 66 is a permanentmagnet 70, preferably made of Alnico metal. The collector bars 66, whichare in magnetic contact with the magnet 70, serve to conduct themagnetism beyond the housing 51 in order that the magnet strength may bestrongly applied to a metal surface without significant loss orattenuation of the magnet strength of the housing 51.

If desired to restrict unnecessary movement of the magnet inside theswitch housing, the magnet may be held captive therein through thecombined action of an elongated spacer or insulating filler member 71and an elongated spring strip 72 disposed respectively immediately belowand above the magnet 70 when viewed as in FIG. 2. The filler 71 isslightly smaller in dimensions than the lower face of the magnet 70 andlies between said magnet and said collector legs 67. The spring strip 72is arcuately bowed with its medial portion in resilient engagement withtopside of the magnet 70 and its ends in resilient contact with theunderside of the housing top wall 65. A pair of open ended slots 73 atthe remote ends of the spring 72, constructed to loosely straddle a pairof reinforcing ribs 75 (FIG. 12) in the housing 51, are provided foravoiding lateral displacement of the spring 72 and simultaneouslyaffording the necessary clearance for longitudinal expansion thereof.While a bowed spring is preferred, it is to be understood that helicallycoiled springs are susceptible of use in the present invention.

Smaller or larger magnets may be employed in the magnet-switchcombination of the invention according to whether a lower or highermagnetic strength is desired, additional fillers 71 being provided orremoved to suitably accommodate same. A protective gasket 75 may bedisposed between legs 67 of collector bars 66 and the wall of casing 2.Gasket 75 and flange 54 of housing 51 have openings 76 and 77,respectively, to accommodate a rivet 78 for securing flange 54 ofhousing 51 to the casing 2 which also has an opening 79.

After the switch and bracket assembly is disposed into the upper openend of the battery casing 2 and with the magnet components assembled inthe rectangular section 52, the housing 51 is positioned over batterycasing 2 and then the cylindrical member 53 is forced into opening 12 ofeasing 2. Projecting tabs 57 and 58 of housing 51 are first flexedinwardly until they are aligned with opening 44 in bracket 22 whereuponthey will spring out and into said openings 44. This will secure bracket22 within casing 2 and secure one end of the housing to casing 2.Thereafter, rivet 78 is passed through rivet openings 79 in casing 2, 76in gasket and 77 in housing 51 thereby securing the flange end 54 tocasing 2.

Either before or after housing 51 is secured to casing 2, the extendedcylindrical member 50 is suitably secured in a conventional manner tobutton 36 thereby extending the actuation means of switch 9 into housing51.

A flexible switch boot 80, made of rubber, a low density polyolefin, orthe like, is assembled above switch 9 in opening 12 of module casing 2.A rigid gasket 81 of ABS copolymers or some other rigid metallic-likematerial provides a seal between boot and opening 12 whilesimultaneously securing boot 80 in a molded recess or groove 59 inhousing 51. This boot and gasket arrangement provides a water-tightassembly for switch 9 while also providing the flexibility necessary foractuating said switch 9. Thus by depressing flexible boot 80, button 36via extension 50 can be lowered thereby effectively operating switch 9.As shown in the drawings, one pole of battery 6 is electricallyconnected to coil spring 5 which in turn is electrically connected toshell 16 via conductive casing ,2 and conductive strip 49. Push buttonswitch 9 has two contact strips 8 and 82 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Thelatter strip 82 is aligned and in contact with the lamp terminal 23while contact strip 8 is aligned and in contact with the center terminalof battery 7. Thus the actuation of switch 9 will internally couple oruncouple contact strips 8 and 82, thereby electrically connecting ordisconnecting, respectively, the battery terminal 83 to the lampterminal 23 which will effectively complete or interrupt, respectively,the electrical circuit of the flashlight.

In certain applications, it may not be desirable to secure an extendedcylindrical member, such as member 50, to the button of the switch. Insuch applications, the center portion 83 of flexible boot 84 may beextended so that it could contact button 36 of switch 9 as shown in FIG.9, said FIG. 9 displaying only a partial view of a switch actuatingassembly identical to that shown in FIG. 2 except for the new embodimentof boot 84.

A flashlight constructed in the manner describedabove would be admirablysuited for use in all applications requiring a sturdy, durablelightweight flashlight. Although this invention has been described withreference to many specific details thereof, it is apparent that theinvention is not limited to such details.

What is claimed is:

l. A flashlight comprising a lens and reflector unit having a front openend adapted to be detachably mounted to a battery casing and having alens, a lens ring, a lamp holder adapted to accommodate a lamp andcontaining a first contact means therein; a battery casing provided witha first open end adapted to receive a battery means and adapted to bedetachably mounted to an end cap for securing battery means therein, asecond open end at the opposite end thereof adapted to be detachablymounted to the front open end of the lens and reflector unit, andwherein second contact means are provided for electrically connectingthe interior vicinity of the end cap to said first contact means; a pushbutton switch fixedly secured on a mounting bracket disposed within thesecond open end of the battery casing with the button member of theswitch disposed within an opening in the wall of the battery casingadjacent the second open end thereof; a housing member substantiallydisposed on the outer surface of the battery casing and having anopening disposed therein with magnetic means disposed in the surface ofsaid housing member adjacent said opening, said housing member alignedand secured to the battery casing such that the opening in said housingmember is aligned with the opening in the wall of the casing so as toaccommodate the button member of the switch disposed in the opening inthe wall of the casing; a flexible boot member disposed and secured overthe opening in the housing member so that upon being depressed, the bootwill in turn depress the button member of the switch; and third contactmeans adapted through actuation of the push button switch in thepresence of a lamp and battery means assembled in the flashlight tocomplete or interrupt the continuity of an electrical circuit betweenthe lamp and the battery means.

2. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein said button member comprises anextended member secured to the button of the push button switch and isdisposed such that it projects through the opening in the wall of thebattery casing and into the opening in the housing member whereupon itis aligned for contacting the flexible boot member.

3. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the flexible boot member extendsthrough the opening in the housing member and is aligned for contactingthe button of the push button switch.

4. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the battery casing is made of aconductive material.

5. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the first open end of the batterycasing is threadably secured to the end cap and wherein the second openend is threadably secured to the lens and reflector unit.

6. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein a gasket is added between theflexible boot and the opening in the housing so as to provide awater-tight seal thereat.

7. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the battery casing is made of anonconductive material and wherein said second contact means is anelectrical contact strip extending from the first open end of thebattery casing to its second open end.

8. The flashlight of claim 7 wherein a first seal is added between thefirst open end of the battery casing and the end cap and a second sealis added between the second open end and the lens and reflector unit soas to provide a water-tight seal at these detachable joints.

1. A flashlight comprising a lens and reflector unit having a front openend adapted to be detachably mounted to a battery casing and having alens, a lens ring, a lamp holder adapted to accommodate a lamp andcontaining a first contact means therein; a battery casing provided witha first open end adapted to receive a battery means and adapted to bedetachably mounted to an end cap for securing battery means therein, asecond open end at the opposite end thereof adapted to be detachablymounted to the front open end of the lens and reflector unit, andwherein second contact means are provided for electrically connectingThe interior vicinity of the end cap to said first contact means; a pushbutton switch fixedly secured on a mounting bracket disposed within thesecond open end of the battery casing with the button member of theswitch disposed within an opening in the wall of the battery casingadjacent the second open end thereof; a housing member substantiallydisposed on the outer surface of the battery casing and having anopening disposed therein with magnetic means disposed in the surface ofsaid housing member adjacent said opening, said housing member alignedand secured to the battery casing such that the opening in said housingmember is aligned with the opening in the wall of the casing so as toaccommodate the button member of the switch disposed in the opening inthe wall of the casing; a flexible boot member disposed and secured overthe opening in the housing member so that upon being depressed, the bootwill in turn depress the button member of the switch; and third contactmeans adapted through actuation of the push button switch in thepresence of a lamp and battery means assembled in the flashlight tocomplete or interrupt the continuity of an electrical circuit betweenthe lamp and the battery means.
 2. The flashlight of claim 1 whereinsaid button member comprises an extended member secured to the button ofthe push button switch and is disposed such that it projects through theopening in the wall of the battery casing and into the opening in thehousing member whereupon it is aligned for contacting the flexible bootmember.
 3. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the flexible boot memberextends through the opening in the housing member and is aligned forcontacting the button of the push button switch.
 4. The flashlight ofclaim 1 wherein the battery casing is made of a conductive material. 5.The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the first open end of the batterycasing is threadably secured to the end cap and wherein the second openend is threadably secured to the lens and reflector unit.
 6. Theflashlight of claim 1 wherein a gasket is added between the flexibleboot and the opening in the housing so as to provide a water-tight sealthereat.
 7. The flashlight of claim 1 wherein the battery casing is madeof a nonconductive material and wherein said second contact means is anelectrical contact strip extending from the first open end of thebattery casing to its second open end.
 8. The flashlight of claim 7wherein a first seal is added between the first open end of the batterycasing and the end cap and a second seal is added between the secondopen end and the lens and reflector unit so as to provide a water-tightseal at these detachable joints.